Pittsburgh’s Leaders Made Streets Safer—Your Officials Can Too
A pilot project for a traffic-calming circle in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Source: NACTO on Flickr.)
For years, Pittsburgh struggled with dangerous streets, just like countless other communities across North America. Traffic fatalities continued to climb—rising by 71% in a single year—leaving families devastated and neighborhoods fearful. But instead of accepting these tragedies as inevitable or waiting for state or federal funding, Pittsburgh’s leaders acted decisively with the resources they had.
Leaders Who Act Are Leaders Who Save Lives
“We’re doing everything we can to make this the safest city in America,” Mayor Ed Gainey said when formally adopting Vision Zero in 2024. “Today we are saying enough is enough,” Councilwoman Barb Warwick agreed.
This wasn’t just political rhetoric. Pittsburgh’s leaders backed their words with immediate action. They established the Fatal Crash Response Team—a cross-departmental working group that includes engineers, public works officials, police, and representatives from the mayor’s office. The team convenes within 48 hours after a serious or fatal crash to determine the root causes of the crash and develop both short and longer-term responses. They prioritize effective, low-cost countermeasures in areas where they'll have the greatest impact.
Once the team has made their recommendations, a team lead is assigned to complete them. According to a memo released this month, all of the team's recommendations are required to be completed within six months of the site visit. They're often completed far sooner, though.
For example, after a person was killed while walking in the Oakland neighborhood, the Fatal Crash Response Team made three recommendations:
Ban right turns on red.
Upgrade traffic signals to 24/7 "stop and go" operation (previously, the signals would flash during overnight hours).
Add a three-second leading pedestrian interval to give people a head start when crossing the street.
The "No Turn on Red" restrictions were implemented within a week, and the other adjustments were completed in less than four months.
Another fatal crash occurred at a curved intersection in the Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood. This triggered the installation of advance curve warning signs, a 15 mph advisory speed limit, and highly visible chevron signs. All of these measures were completed within two months.
These responses aren’t theoretical and they don’t come with multimillion-dollar price tags—they are concrete actions taken with the resources at hand. These measures are saving lives, helping neighborhoods thrive, and restoring residents’ faith in their local government.
A Model for Every City
Pittsburgh’s Vision Zero initiative is a powerful reminder that local officials have the power to prevent traffic fatalities. When elected officials act decisively with the resources they have, change happens quickly—and lives are saved.
Your community doesn’t have to accept traffic deaths as a fact of life. If Pittsburgh’s leaders can turn the tide on traffic deaths, so can yours. Start by having a conversation with your elected officials. And if you are an elected official, follow Pittsburgh’s example today—because leadership that waits is leadership that fails.
